Current News

Vermont Business MagazineThe ninth edition of the “Middlebury Maple Run – The Sweetest Half” is scheduled for Sunday, May 7with a starting time of 9 am. The Middlebury Maple Run is one of New England’s “must-do” races and is included in the March 2017 issue of Runners’ World as being one of the country’s best food- and beverage-themed half marathons. The article’s backdrop includes a panoramic photo of Middlebury’s South Street Extension, approximately Mile 9 of the half marathon course.With 660,000 subscribers,Runners’ Worldis the running community’s most-read publication.

Vermont Business Magazine Katharine Shepherd, Ed.D., a professor and interim associate dean in the College of Education and Social Services (CESS) at the University of Vermont, was endowed in a formal investiture ceremony on February 7 as the inaugural Levitt Family Green and Gold Professor. Following remarks from UVM President Tom Sullivan and CESS Dean Dr. Scott Thomas, Dr. Shepherd was presented with a medallion in front of a packed room of family, friends, colleagues and students in the Memorial Lounge of the Waterman Building on the UVM campus. Recognition of the importance of endowed positions for senior teachers and researchers through a formal investiture ceremony – now a revered campus tradition – is one of the highest honors the University of Vermont can bestow on its faculty members and the generous donors who make it possible.

Vermont Business Magazine The owners of Phoenix Books, a Vermont-owned bookstore with locations in Essex, Burlington, Rutland and Chester, have purchased Woodstock's Yankee Bookshop. Michael DeSanto and Renee Reiner met with Susan Morgan - who bought the shop in 2001 - for the closing on February 1. Yankee Bookshop first opened in November of 1935, making it Vermont's oldest continuously operated independent bookshop.

From left to right, Kristian Preylowski, Kari Meutsch, Susan Morgan, Mike DeSanto, Renee, Reiner. Photo by Gareth Henderson of The Vermont Standard.

Vermont Business Magazine Students and teachers representing nearly 20 schools from across Vermont crowded into the Statehouse Cafeteria in Montpelier on Wednesday along with legislators, government officials, and Vermont Farm to School Network leaders to celebrate Farm to School Awareness Day and honor 2017 grant winners. Over $121,000 in grants and technical supports were awarded to 13 schools, representing 10 Vermont counties, for the purpose of growing and developing farm to school programs. This year’s Farm to School grants will expand the reach of the Vermont Farm to School Program by 5,000 students, raising the total number of Vermont students with increased access to fresh, healthy, locally grown foods and nutrition education through the grant program to 40,000.

Vermont Business MagazineThe USChamber of Commerce Foundation announced today the second cohort of participants in its Talent Pipeline Management Academy, a program supported by a $2.5 million grant from USA Funds. Talent Pipeline Management (TPM), the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s signature workforce development initiative, is a new way of addressing the nation’s skills gap by positioning employers in a more central role as key customers of postsecondary education and training providers.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont legislators from the House and Senate introduced on Thursday legislation anticipated to raise as much as $10 million per year to support affordable housing in Vermont and reduce homelessness. The bills propose a $2 per night Occupancy Fee on hotel, motel and AirBnB guests, which will fund a newly created Workforce and Supportive Housing Fund. The fund will be managed by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. According to promoters of the bill, for the price of a cup of coffee, Vermonters will gain better access to affordable and workforce housing including rental assistance and housing related services. H217 and its Senate companion bill have over 35 sponsors.

Vermont Business MagazineThe USDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) seeks grant applications from rural businesses interested in increasing their bottom line through performing energy efficiency upgrades or installing renewable energy systems. USDA Rural Development is accepting applications until March 31for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

Big Picture Farm solar in Townshend. USDA photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s College will be joining more than 100 colleges and universities as part of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. The Coalition is a diverse group of public and private universities that provide substantial support to lower–resourced and under-represented students, offer responsible student financial aid support, and demonstrate a commitment to student graduation.

Saint Michael’s will accept the Coalition application for admission beginning this fall.

by Benjamin Kinsley Campaign for Vermont Prosperity Many Vermonters probably had mixed reactions to the nomination of Betsy DeVos as USEducation Secretary. On the one hand, she is espoused as a proponent of school choice which is prized by many of our rural communities. On the other hand, Vermont lead the country in rejection of Donald Trump last November (by 28 points). Nearly every single one of his cabinet choices have drawn criticism, but none have drawn quite the ire that DeVos has. Most of this opposition has come from teachers unions who represent public school educators, and Democrats who believe DeVos plans to gut public schools across the country. They may not be wrong.

Vermont Business Magazine For the second consecutive month, Personal Income, the state's most important revenue source, was again ahead of targets, leading to an overall positive month for taxes. General Fund revenues collected for the month of January totaled $165.86 million, $3.12 million above the consensus revenue targets adopted by the Emergency Board on January 19, 2017. The Corporate Income Tax missed its mark by -$1.65 million as did the Estate Tax by -$1.07 million. The Sales Tax was also down, while Rooms & Meals stayed just ahead of targets.

Vermont Business Magazine The Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) Bright Street Housing Cooperative, a new, 40-unit resident-controlled housing development in the Old North End, has been selected for the 2017 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award from the National Community Development Association (NCDA). The City of Burlington, which sponsored the award, joined six other communities selected to receive the award on behalf of the co-op.